Clarity Before the Chaos

Hey friends,

You know those weeks where everything feels... loud?

Too many messages. Too many threads. Too many “we just need a quick decision” moments.

I used to take pride in pushing through it.
Work harder. React faster. Power through the noise.

But lately, I’ve been trying something different:
Clarity, before the chaos.

A small shift, big impact

The biggest productivity unlock for me this year?

Learning to ask better questions before I dive into work.

There’s one I keep coming back to:

That question pulls me out of the weeds.
It helps me zoom out, reset, and focus on what actually matters, especially when everything feels equally urgent.

My 3-part clarity habit

🧠 1. The Monday check-in
Before anything else, I ask myself:

📄 2. The open loops doc
One doc. Everything that’s swirling in my head.
If it’s on my mind, it goes in the doc. I try and update it daily. Total game-changer.

❓ 3. The grounding question
“What’s the next irreversible decision?”
When I feel overwhelmed, that’s the one that brings me back to center.

You don’t need a system. You need a signal.

People often think clarity means having a system.
But I think it’s simpler than that.

You just need a signal - something small that helps you reset when the noise creeps in.

For me, it’s that question.
For you, it might be a 10-minute walk.
Or a Post-it that says “Focus beats effort.”

Try this

Next time you feel pulled in 10 directions, pause and ask:

Then pick one thing.
Start there.
Clarity builds quickly when you let it.

🔍 Bonus Content

📘 Books/ Audio books

📝 Worksheet:

🧠 Reflection Prompt:

That’s all for this week.

Got your own question or ritual that helps you stay clear in the chaos?
Reply and tell me, I’ll share a few favorites in next week’s issue.

See you next time,
Stef